OverExposed Notes on A Potential Scandal

University, Up to my ears, and Bobby Long

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:08:05 PDT

It's been forever since I last posted and I'm terribly sorry about it. School has been taking over my life. And when I'm not at school I'm at work, and if not there on the phone with a friend and occasionally visiting them. It's been crazy. Bear with me please! Don't you, forget about me (and don't forget the movie I got that line/song from = Breakfast Club!!). Seriously though, I have not forgotten about this blog, and I will make every effort to post as often as possible.

What am I currently reading? ILIAD by Homer for class, MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins (for class too), LISYISTRATA by Aristophanes, BEOWULF, A DOLL'S HOUSE, and numerous other excerpts, all for class.

For now, I'd like to offer you one of my favourite songs EVER:

BEING A MOCKINGBIRD by BOBBY LONG

Being A Mockingbird

The night it rests like a hammerblow and breaks the morning it brings,
The mad men are down on the crypt floor sleeping through there favours and sins,
I trained myself to be hardened and greet the bird like the day,
I soared to greet lusty gamblings and drenched myself in the dusk where they lay,

I exchanged the dark for the darkness and hung the belt from the wing,
So the traitors may part with there malice but ill remember everything,
I stood up and danced round the heckles and planted the leaf from the book,
I admit i love my romances the blackbird, the wren, the rook,

The church house wont harbour the coffins but the docks they wittle there ships,
To the pleasure the feast and the memory and the soar of kissing her lips,
I gave up myself to the dawning, of the morning bird in first flight,
I thought i ran the road of the pauper,

I lost it all in the night,
I lost it all in the night,

In case video isn't picking up, HERE is the link.

Clever E-Scam

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 16:08:10 PDT

Got another funny email in my spam box today. I like to read them for a good hearty laugh. You know the emails I'm talking about. "I have X money in my account and I need your banking info to transfer the sum to you and to split the millions with you." Rightttttt.

If you had that kind of money, would you hand it over to me - a stranger - and expect said stranger to hand half back to you?

Here's a delicious extract:

SOURCE OF FUNDS:
I have a profiling amount in an excess of US$40.5M, which I seek you to accommodate for me. You will be rewarded with 40% of the total sum for your partnership. Can you handle this?

and another....

While I was on the process, my boss got arrested for his involvement in politics by financing the leading and opposing political parties (the [INSERT ORGANIZATON HERE], led by [INSERT NAME HERE], and [INSERT NAME HERE], a liberal/social democratic party led by INSERT NAME HERE), which posed as a threat to President [INSERT NAME HERE] as Russian president.

*I blocked out names because I don't know if they're real or not - aside from one which is so obviously a real name - and I'm not going there.

YOUR ROLE:

All I need from you is to stand as the beneficiary of the above mentioned sum and I will re-profile the funds with your data, which will enable the financial firm transfer the sum to you.

I wasn't addressed by name and obviously I'm part of a spam movement where they shoot out thousands and hope any will respond. One time I emailed another scammer saying "who do you think you're fooling." I didn't get a response.

I haven't been posting regularly because I've been so busy with work and writing. But I desperately want to keep up with this, I'm not giving up!

Take care,

Adaora

No Pictures, Just memories.....Legends Gone

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:43:20 PDT

I hate to do posts like this, but I really couldn't leave it unsaid.

Farrah Fawcett....what can I even say about this. I think she fought long and hard, and maybe it was time for her to finally rest. I hope she's relaxing on a beach in the sky with her blond hair - and flipper cut - blowing in the breeze. Such a classy lady, such a strong fight, and I'm hoping her love - Mr. O'Neal I believe - is coping OK.

RIP Farrah. You're resting as you deserve to be.

They humiliated him in life, they don't have the right to talk about his death." My twin on the media and Michael Jackson's passing.

I agree. I think what killed him was the lack of human connection. Human beings are social creatures by nature. When you isolate yourself - however justifiably as his isolation was - for the sake of your privacy, it must eat away at you sometimes. That lack of connection, the inability to find someone to talk to, to lean on, to rely on. It - in my opinion - might have been what killed him. When the media do what they do best - laud you, raise you up only to grab you and slam you down - you need someone who can be real with you and who you can have that 'I'm OK I have someone,' feeling. I don't know if he had that. I don't want to go on forever and ever about it, but I think there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from this. Living life to the fullest, not judging people, taking what is said about you with a grain of salt, finding someone to lean on when the salt starts to feel like a rain storm.

RIP Michael Jackson, you always were a thriller to me.

I truly feel as if it's the end of an era.

Adaora

More then a Feeling

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:59:46 PDT

Various bits of dialogue have been floating around in my head. And what annoys me about it - not annoyed that they're coming trust me, just the timing - is that I keep forgetting to bring my bleeding notepad with me. This morning I had to find blank pages in my pocket planner to accommodate the beast. I had to cram it everywhere that it could fit! This wouldn't have been necessary had I had the frigging notepad in my purse today.

The one I use is called a tablet. The pages are all attached and you roll it back to get to the next page. The back isn't ruled but the front is. It just makes me feel like a proper writer - using it instead of the hole punches binder ones - which is silly, but it is what it is.

Now I'm trying to sort it all out and put an order to all the stuff I scribbled down. I'm copying it to my tablet - which I should have had in the first place - and then I hope to get some clarity on how to order it once I've got it down neatly. But I'm starting to think my creative muse likes chaos and disorder.
----

Also bought some new perfume yesterday - mind was running out - and I found ESCADA again!

Before I started wearing - Salvatore Ferragamo (Incantanto Smile) - I wore ESCADA's PACIFIC PARADISE. It smelled amazing. Unfortunately though, a lot of perfumes stop running after a year and require you to buy a new one. So I went and picked up three bottles (30 ml each) of ESCADA SUNSET HEAT. It smells amazing. It's honestly (in my opinion) even better then the other ESCADA they made before. Hopefully they will keep this one running because I'm sticking to it. The price was so cheap it was amazing.

Here's what the bottle/box look like:

I know you can smell the sunset heat wafting through your computer screens and up into your nose to tickle it.

Adaora

ARCHIE COMICS

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:19:00 PDT

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?

Well I just heard, the news today,
seems my life, is about to change....(Creed, Arms Wide Open)

DON'T READ FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED....

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED....

Archie comics...heard of them?

It's been 70 years....

Archie has been torn between Betty and Veronica (he was with B first, then V at the same time...hard to explain...goes back and forth between them as the other seethes in jealousy before the pendulum swings back in their direction):

Archie and Betty:

Archie and Veronica (*fail*):

So when I heard the news today (I know, I'm really plugging this lyric but bear with me), I let out a battle cry unlike any that has been heard in my house in a long time (well...since I heard last year the latest Potter movie had been moved to July of this year). Seriously. I sounded like Zena the Warrior Princess. And if I had the ability, I'd pull Veronica out of the comic strip, put her in the real world, and place Betty in front of Archie so he can propose to HER as he should have.

What happened to the years and years of commitment with Betty. The strong and beautiful connection and relationship they had? (I feel like an idiot for being this passionate, but I basically grew up on this comic and I can't even fathom how this decision...how it happened). Veronica has barely got anything beyond fluff and a few rolls of $1000 bills in her brain. Betty is commitment, decency, compassion, THE soul mate, and YES she's even pretty too. Sure she doesn't pander to "what's in" with fashion, but she wears what she wants and she is might great in her outfits.

It might seem a bit dramatic to some folks that this is the reaction I would have, but I assure you I cannot be the only one.

The decision is (in my humble opinion), EPIC FAIL (as they say on live journal). It's such epic fail, that I can't even begin to process how it happened.

ARCHIE PROPOSED TO VERONICA. That's right, Veronica is going to be his wife.

Here's how the comic cover (which reveals all)looks:

Before I go, let's just take a moment of silence (to remember what could have been....

Summer Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:27:12 PDT

I have weaknesses, who doesn't? The kind of weakness in which I refer to (in this post) however, is of the retail variety.

Whenever I pass a book store, I can't help but buy books. I just cannot. So I dropped almost $50 on some books (that I'm finding to be friggin incredible).

D.H LAWERENCE'S: LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER, AND THE FIRST WOMAN IN LOVE
ANN BRASHERES: THE LAST SUMMER (OF YOU AND ME)

I'm currently reading LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER. I can't tell you much about it (because I literally bought it yesterday and have just begun it), but I will say it's amazing so far. I also must confess a bit of embarassment to be reading this on the bus home (when you consider the cover). Lady Catterley's bum is in full view and she's just had a tumle in the bedroom. I haven't had any of those scenes yet, but it's going to be cool to read this book. The back flap says:

"One of the major works of fiction written during the 20th century, D.H Lawerence's last novel is an erotic celebration of life. Described by the New York Times as "our times most significant romance," the controveral book was banned, burned, and the subject a landmark obscenity trial...It was not published in Great Britain until 1960, afteer having long scandalized society with it's sexually explicit decriptions of lovemaking, its bold use of four-letter words that were considered vulgar and a sotryline in which the lovers were of difference social stations..."

As I said, I'm loving it already, it's pretty amazing.

I also bought clothes (of course), and by that I mean dresses (because they're basically all I wear aside from skirts!)

And shoes.....

*Never heard of this brand, but their shoes are just as comfy. For someone who wears orthotics, that's an important thing.
*Clarks Artisans make the most incredibly beautiful and comfortable shoes. I have their boots, their summer sandals, their everything. It's all good. When I see their name (and my size) I buy.

It's not you, it's me (Swine Flue...er H1N1)....

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:06:01 PDT

I was just finishing up my essay and I couldn't help but notice the picture of a pig's HUGE nose enlarged to the point that it was pretty clear the pig wasn't camera shy! Along with the pic - of this fine swine hamming it up to the camera- came the heading "DID WE GIVE PIGS SWINE FLU?

Canadian scientists are saying we gave the flu to pigs in the first place. So people calling it the 'swine flu' probably wasn't a good idea.

But you know how we humans are; we just love to pass the blame like it's a hot potato or something.

Seriously though, why is all this debate going on about who started it? I really don't care who started it, I just want it to be gone. I think they're putting the fear of God or something else (if you're not Christian) into us, and it's really like pulling teeth. I just want to know what to do to protect myself (which I do know, after digging through who dunnit galore) and whether the numbers are going down.

It just seems like some people want us to stay in a constant society of fear, and it seems really ridiculous to me.

Guys....

Keep your money where your wallet is....not where your mouth is. Youldn't want to get sick would you?
Take care,

Adaora

Time to talk

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:27:39 PDT

I was watching a fan video of one of my favourite TV shows (one of the few things I watch on TV - THE TUDORS.) I was linked to video in which Natalie Dormer (<3 Anne Boleyn) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (<3 King Henry) appear on The View. The bit that stood out for me is when Meyers was called out on what he said in a TV guide episode. His comments were in regards to the fact that people were getting too shocked and uncomfortable with the sex scenes in The Tudors.

Fast forward to 4:34 in (if you don't want to enjoy the entire - fantastic - interview)

" I think people are getting too worked up for nothing. I think that we're all too busy in our lives to be doing the real thing. I think if we turned off our televisions and got into bed, we wouldn't be so shocked."

After taking a moment to savour the delicious irony (of the fact that I have to keep my TV on to watch this brilliant show), it made a lot of sense to me.

In North America we spend a lot of time censoring nudity, censoring sex, and anything referring to it. But violence can be seen on TV at all times of day and nobody really bats an eyelash to it.

I really do wonder why people spend so much time censoring on TV what we then (hopefully often) turn the TV off - or we should do - to partake in. And it's the very thing our bodies are made for (there is no denying that). Physically, we respond to sexual, to sensory contact so it baffles me that people spend so much time publicly suppressing it. Why are we so ashamed? Why are we embarrassed?

I think the lack of conversation is something that has even more of a negative impact then anything else. The taboo of it (and the resulting adrenaline rush/getting off of bit) + the lack of knowledge (consequences, how to protect yourself) = a recipe for disaster.

but.....

conversation (about sex, what happens, how you feel) + knowledge (how to protect yourself) = making an informed decision which suits the individuals involved.

Another point that I wanted to make is our very terribly skewed sense of self-image. This may seem like I'm stretching it a bit, but hear me out. People watch porn (which is out there but is heavily sanctioned and carefully distributed) and BOTH sexes get the so called ideal about what a "good" body looks like and what good sex looks like. So when two people get together, aren't they going to be blowing their tops in embarrassment, anxiety, apprehension about - not only how they feel about themselves - but how the other person sees them?

It's like we're still in some sort of a garden of eden where we've just discovered we're naked and we're all scrambling to gather all the leaves on the ground to cover our 'essenials.' We spend so much time covering EVERYTHING about is; our personalties (we are walking idiots perfoming our roles - what we think we're supposed to be, how others want to see us, how we think they want to see us) and we're no longer anything. We're all perfoming what we think the other wants us to be and we don't spend any time understanding ourselves - or if it even exists.

I think I'll just end it there (as i've got an essay to work on - silly me!)

But I wanted to know: What are your thoughts?

- Adaora

Nonstalgic Moments

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:35:10 PDT

This morning my dad was saying my twin left a small mess on the table and never cleaned it up. She didn't hear him because he was upstairs; I called up to her and said she left a mess and she should come down and clean it up. As she was about to come downstairs he said never mind it had already been cleaned up (I don't even know what the mess was I should add - my vantage point was away from the kitchen dooorway but on the same floor).

For some strange reason I stared to say (and these were my exact words)

"WHO MADE THIS BIG MESS?"

"ME?"

"WELL, IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT I CLEAN IT UP!"

Then my sister said "I'm COMING," and I said "never mind I'm just singing a song that popped into my head.

You see, all the talk of messy making reminded me of one of my favourite childhood shows (it's a Canadian one by-the-way) called THE BIG COMFY COUCH.

The show starred Alyson Court as (who to me was) Loonette the Clown:

Then I remembered the weekly strech on the time clock (irony is amazing)Loonette did in every episode as well:

I started to find myself facinated that this seemingly silly childhood show could have such a strong hold on my psyche that (years on) I would be triggered by one word and recite the lyric which she sang (at the same time - grand maniuplation)
every week. I must confess to finding myself a little bit put off and more then a little bit creeped out by it. If our minds are so maleable and so open to influence at such a young age, why are we taught to take in the same ideas and same ways of being over and over again?

I'm not saying the ideas on the show are bad (or that they are good either), I just find myself to be a little big disturbed by how things just seem to slip into our ways of thinking. And how this is formulated with language and with physical mannerisms and behaviours, and we just don't even think about it and whether it's OK.

Take care,

Adaora

PS: I so love the show, I just seem to be questioning a lot of things lately.

Britain’s Got Talent alright but the whole world has problems too

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:00:00 PDT

I KNOW everyone is talking about it, but I have to get my two cents in. There’s a big problem with the world we live in, and the problem is the fascination – the desperation- that we have to DEFINE people as something or in some way based on very fickle things. I’m not going to beat around the bush here: I’m talking about Susan Boyle from Britain’s Got Talent. I’m one of 50,000,000 people to be doing this, but as I said I can’t help but put my hat in.

The music industry is something that’s been bugging me in particular lately. And it’s simply a carbon copy (if you will) of the problem I refer to early on in this post. Music use to be about how strong your instrument was (whether that instrument was your pipes, your guitar, your grand piano, or you whatever). You did gigs, you played, and you gathered a fan base, developed street cred and did your thing. The industry is down and dirty now. It’s perverted, it’s disgusting, and it’s superficial. And I’m saying this so people can be all “I know, its shit right...f**** the man,” I’m saying it because I think it’s true and I WANT to put it out there. The entertainment industry in general is going down this path as well. Everything is about creating a brand. Artists are selling a ‘brand’ that’s been carefully crafted and moulded to fit what the ‘consumer study’ folks think ‘we’ want. What I want to know is, who the f**** is we anyway? It’s complete lunacy.

Back to music....
Music, books, movies, any kind of art seems to me to have been about doing it for the love of your craft. People we’re ‘selling’ anything or creating on the basis of anyone. It was organic, it was raw, and it was real. My issue is that people aren’t open to the idea of anything new or different coming around because their so intently focused, their so inherently groomed into seeing what it is they think they have the ability to see clearly.

They make their shit (and it is shit), they paint over burnt buildings, they cover up cracks with plaster, they aren’t natural. I don’t even know what natural is at this point, but they are far and away some of the most generic bullshit I’ve ever encountered in my life. Of course there are artists of all the crafts I just mentioned who still operate under the idea of doing things organically and naturally. There is so much of the publically marketed bullshit out there that it’s clouding the airways for the good stuff to break through. I have to push through a ton of bricks to get to the genuinely good material. And some people don’t want to try, don’t feel the need to try, hell they probably don’t even know that they should try.

I actually was moved to tears by her performance. I say this as someone who hardly ever cries about anything. I don’t think I’ve cried since...well OK I cried before( at my grandmother’s funeral but before then I hadn’t cried since...I can’t even remember to be honest). She’s got a voice that...she’s WOW. I’m one of millions saying this right now, but I’m probably one of the few who wouldn’t have assumed that she’d be shit because of how she looked before she even opened her mouth. Some of the greatest musicians of all time aren’t the best looking people (according to what the so called standard for ‘looks’ is anyway), and people still do listen to them as much as they did then. I won’t name any names because it means absolutely nothing to me. I don’t see it. The only thing I’m doing when I’m listening to a beautiful voice and its accompanying instrumental melody is closing my eyes and feeling the music wash over me and flow through me. I’m not looking at his or her face, their dress or pant size, whether they have hair that is long or short...it’s all useless to me.

The reason why people are so invested on visual appearance when it comes to a heavily (use to be...in some ways fading) audio industry is the age of MTV, the age of music videos. Add onto that the ‘beauty standards’ which was being printed, re-printed, video/audio spread all over the place, and you have a problem. Suddenly, what he’s wearing becomes important, and whether she is small enough to be wearing that skirt becomes an issue.

That’s a problem.

Thanks for taking the time to read this guys, I appreciate it. It’s good to have a nice rant every now and then. It felt really good to get that off my chest.

The coincidently standard meeting stunning judge on this show was the one who was the most eloquent on the matter out of the three. So watch the video, enjoy this gift of a voice, and if you’re not to shaken to type coherently, let me know what you think.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

PIC-SPAM!

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:48:18 PDT

This post is mainly a visual read:

My outfit on Monday:

The back of my Dickies skirt:

and the side of it....

This was a purely grey Kersh tunic before I got my hands on it. I got the anchors from two of my underpants (a white pair and a blue pair as you might have surmised), ironed them on, then sewed all the buttons I had in my sewing box (yes I have one). I think it turned out well.....I'm telling you this in case I haven't posted this information before.

What I made for easter:

*Goes with tortilla chips...literally, this is the most delcicous thing ever. Whenever I make it, the stuff lasts for fully 10 minutes before people clear it out.

*Pot Roast (tender, juicy, yummy)

*Peanut butter cookies...the jar was already half gone when I realized I'd better take a picture!

*Cupcakes made entirely from scratch (....OK, the candy was from Bulk Barn!)

And finally....my guitar (if you ever wanted to know what it looks like):

Take care,

Adaora

The Prophet

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:15:52 PDT

I've just finished reading Gibran's THE PROPHET (probably 5 times straight) and I can't even begin to tell you how in love with it I am. I rented it (among others) at the library to read for pleasure, and I couldn't put it down. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever read in my life.

My favourite passages (recited from my head - as they're imprinted there)

ON CHILDREN
[...]Your children are not your children. They may come through you but they are not of you. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

ON BEAUTY

[...]"And beauty is not a need but an ecstasy.It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth, but rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted. It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear, but rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears.

ON LOVE

[...]And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

----
Has anything been written that is more beautiful then this?

Adaora

Drunk Man Can Dance (Part Two)

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:59:57 PDT

Part two of my drunk man dancing saga. Here's the drunk man dancing at our family compound in East, Nigeria on Valentine's Day.

It's kind of a drunken story over time (in fact in part two it's darker outside), so you might want a peak at PART ONE first.

Enjoy.....

Adaora

Get Creative

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:41:35 PDT

For my English class at uni our Professor/TA elected (while I was in Nigeria) to have a creative day. She brought it up again in class, and I (initially reluctant) decided to volunteer and participate. Basically we get to showcase whatever talent/ability/piece of art that we want to share with the class. I think this could be fun (no matter how nervous I am to do it), so I'm pushing myself through it.

I'll probably write something and read it out to my tiny tutorial (I'm quite comfortable with them and made good friends with two of the people there), and I might bring my guitar along too.

Maybe I'll post what I write here and see what you think!

Take care,

Adaora

This summer I want.....

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:13:29 PDT

This summer I've decided I'm going to take some 'professional' music lessons. And by music lessons I mean acoustic guitar lessons. I've been going it alone for some time now, and I thought it my be beneficial to experience professional tutelage.

I think I've shown you a picture of what my acoustic looks lik haven't I? In case I havent, here's a picture from the net. I promise to actually photograph my own acoustic when I'm not so lazy. I have a Vantage solid wood and steel string acoustic guitar. It was love from the first moment I saw her. She even has a name - it's Morgana Le Fay.

Another thing that is keeping me looking forward to summer is more money (summer 'full-time availability,') more time for friends, and most importantly, more time to write.

Because really, what could be more fun? Spending my days playing my acoustic, writing for musical chords and a book for people to (hopefully read), going to the gym, hanging out with friends, maybe having a bonfire complete with guitars, s'mores and drinks, and then sleeping to do it all over again the next day?

I still have dreams of owning a Gibson Acoustic J-250 Monarch Acoustic Guitar....

One day.....

Adaora

And now I lay me down to sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:10:54 PST

Ever since I got back from my trip to Nigeria (On the 22nd maybe?) I've been using the AIR FRANCE eye mask that they give you (along with a wet wipe, headphones for the TV, a blanket and a pillow). The first three nights I did it because I couldn't tell (actually my body couldn't) when it was night time, and when it was daytime. No kidding. I was wide awake at 3 am in the morning, and struggling to stay awake anywhere between 3-6 pm Eastern time. I've just discovered that I've got a VERY sore throat (been experiencing dry cough like the plague), and I have a headache that comes and goes. I've got a nose that is stuffed up like cotton, although it's not at all runny. I think the drastic whether change is killing my body. The fact that I barely am at my house (with my schedule I'm either at work or at school), and a lot of that time is spent outside, maybe my body misses the hot weather as much as I do.

To fight this situation, I've enlisted the help of some old friends:

I've been popping honey-lemon fast acting halls like it's candy

I've been drinking Sunny D (California style of course, because it's were I plan to live) like it's going out of style

And I've been clutching my throat as if holding it is going to prevent the next coughing bout from going on.

Not bloody likely.

Anyways, I thought it would be good to post some more pictures from the trip (hopefully the look of summer will cure this half well and half un-well feeling in my body) and also to reminisce until we (myself and the country, my family) meet again.

So here are some more pictures from the trip:

The goat that my dad and his people (OBOSI) brought:

A baby Goat chillin/walking on our property:

Taken on the third level terrace:

Taken at the side of the compound:

Red sand was EVERYWHERE. And as a result it was only natural that I throw down and participate in a timeless tradition:

Take care,

Adaora

Drunk Man Can Dance.

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:00:01 PST

I've just uploaded part one of video, specifically called "Drunk Man Can Dance." What's it about? Well it's about a drunk man at my family compound in East Nigeria on Valentines Day dancing with a Star beer in one hand and a face cloth in the other.
Saying goodbye to my gran was pretty depressing, but there were some moments (like this one at the family villa) that had my cousins and I in stitches the entire evening. We needed that, seeing as we laid her to rest the day before. RIP gran.

This is the 1st video that I've ever uploaded to YouTube, so I hope you watch, rate, comment, and subscribe!

Enjoy!

Twenty Somthing Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:06:34 PST

First Batch of photos (East and West Nigeria)

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:12:32 PST

Because all of you have been so patient I thought I might bring pictures. This trip was bittersweet (I went to say goodbye to my last remaining gran parent - my gran), but I got meet a lot of family that I've never seen in my life, go to places (Nigeria in general) that I've never been in my life. So it was both sad and enjoyable. I haven't even put these up on facebook yet and I'm sharing a few with you (more to come later, just don't want overload of the mother ship!)

Sorry if you have to click to make it big (this camera takes amazing pictures/video, but it makes them BIG).

East Nigeria...

View from the family (house my grand dad/papa had built) villa:

Another view from the family villa:

Road Path:

Road Path:

West Nigeria - Lagos!

Lagos!(I love the red building...I so wanted to see what was inside but never had the chance....next time!)

Better then Burger King, McDonald's, or any other so called 'fast-food' establishment in the Western world. I give you MR. BIGGS!

I ate...

Burger:

chicken patty:

Devilishly delicious concoction that tastes so good your mouth waters.
On the inside is a boiled egg, but the outside...I don't know what the hell they put (or how they did it), but it was frigging amazing.

^
That's my dad's hand - he held out his for me so I could photograph it (I'd already eaten mine when I realized I wanted to take a picture!)

I ate a lot of mangos, Pepe soup (sp?), semolina and soup, rice, etc, but twice I went to Mr. Biggs and ate the same meal (which I've photograhped for you).

Oh yea, one more thing...

To drink I had an Orange Fanta (in a glass bottle! Fantastic throwback...forgot to take a pic of it though).

Take care,

Adaora

I didn't watch the Oscars last night

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:49:33 PST

Please have a nice stiff shot of something that's highly alcoholic before posting any comments my love!

I just took a 16 hour journey to get back to Canada after my two weeks in Nigeria.I've got the most unusual sleeping pattern you've probably ever seen in your life. As I look at the clock on my computer, it's telling me the time is just 10:29 pm. But my body says the clock is wrong. Oh no, apparently it's 4:30 am. I'm wide awake during EST evening time and I'm half asleep during EST day-time and afternoon. It's murder.

On a positive note, the flight was smooth, and my fears of flying were distracted by watching SEX AND THE CITY, NICK AND NORA'S INFINITE PLAY LIST, GOSSIP GIRLS, and FRIENDS over and over again two Nigeria (via Air France), and coming from Lagos, Nigeria (via Air France again). The food was better then I'd expected it to be (it looked like real food and it was a balanced meal), but there were bits and pieces here and there which I couldn't eat.

I'm not ashamed to say we flew economy. The thing is, I figured out straight away the problem I had with it. I don't know if shorter people experience this too, but It seems my legs are too long to be flying 8 hours from Pearson Airport to the AP in Paris, and then another 6 from there to the Airport in Lagos. I kept trying to stretch my legs out (no where to go) and then at an angle (again no where to go).
Very frustrating. I'm 5'9 inches tall airplane makers. Please consider the fact that regular people have parents helping them pay for school and that these regular people have to also have money to pay for school, transportation, life sustenance, and flights to other countries for funerals and semi-reunions. I saw the room you people give first class folks and I think you should be ashamed of yourselves. That being said, if I had the money (and I might start saving it up for next time), I probably will do everything I can to avoid flying economy again.

Once we arrived in Lagos, what slapped me in the face was how hot it was. I'd never experienced anything like it. It was like the sun was two inches from your skin and decided it wanted to bake you. But that was just outside in daylight. When in the airport walking threw customs, there is the sweltering humidity. You might be rolling your eyes at me for mentioning this, but it was like going from one extreme to the next. And returning - entering Pearson Airport again - the cold slapped me hard and good.

Being in Nigeria though was kind of fantastic. I got to see family that I hadn't seen in years, I was constantly sweating bullets because it was so hot, and I took so much video and picture footage I don't even know where to begin. I will post some of this footage soon, I'm just (truth be told) too damn lazy to do it just yet. Probably by mid week I'll do the deed. Another great thing about being in Nigeria was the fact that I had this creative spurt of ideas for my MS. It's the most unusual and most interesting change I've made in a while, and I had to keep asking for paper because some of my luggage (with the paper) was in Lagos at my uncles house and I had taken a flight to the east. Everything went well.

So once I've uploaded pictures, expect more detail on the trip.

Take care

Flight!

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:53:40 PST

I'm off!

See you again in a couple of weeks!

Take care,

Adaora

Another reason why I love Luda.

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:00:00 PST

I know this song has been out for some time, but I was just listening to it and I had to blog about it. I have the most random taste in music (everything from Van Morisson, Nirvana, India Arie, Lauren Hill, Taylor Swift, Stereophonics, Dixie Chicks, Foo Fighters, and even some artists I won't ever admit). I'm not ashamed of loving Luda though, and here's the song that gets me laughing/bobbing my head/laughing at how true the lyric is/smiling all at the same time. It's off his (pretty damn awesome) album called THEATRE OF THE MIND (probably spelled theatre differently, but I live in Canada so....)

What them girls like:

Some of the best lyric:

"I say they wana talk to ya, so shut up and listen.
If you can't take the heat, then get the f**** out the kitchen.
Cause a ride-or-die man for his ride-or-die chick
Gets a ride-or-die pudding for that ride-or-die stick."

I've always admired his lyric and how he rhymes. I know some people don't consider rapping an art form, but when the lyric sounds like that how can you not?

It just seems like most men aren't even willing to listen sometimes because they think all they're going to hear is nagging. Personally (and I'm not just saything this because I'm a woman), I don't nag. I express myself when I have something to say, but most of the time I keep things to myself. I'm quite a serious introvert. I keep to myself quite a lot, and I have a hard time 'sharing' things and 'feelings' with other people. That's just the way I am I guess. I will do it if I feel it's necessary, and I WILL stand up for myself when the time comes.

Just thought I'd put that out there!

And I understand a few people wanted to see my poem, but I'm not sure If the panel wants it only available to THEM. Win or loose, I promise to post the poem after the contest ends (in March so it isn't too long of a wait)!

Take care,

Adaora

All about the books.

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:04:52 PST

I'm pretty sure that I've made it clear (via my side bar "I am currently reading" bit and my pseudo reviews of my leisure readings), that I am in love with books and literature of all sorts.

So when I'm going to another city, town, or even country (as the case is now), I look through my collection of books to see what I'm going to be taking with me on the journey. This morning I did just that. I decided to leave it to the last possible moment because I wanted a "to the minute" sort of sense of what I wanted to read. Now I've made my decision, and those books are sitting in my "checked in mini luggage (of toiletries that I can't take in my carry -on, a towel, and a makeup bag)", and I've got the ones I intend to read on the plane inside my carry-on. I thought it might be fun to share my selections with all of you.

Please click to get the full image!

I did indeed devote an entire post to this book. I won't give you another earful, because you all know how much I love it. But I WILL tell you I'm reading it for the second time. That's why I haven't updated my 'I am currently reading' bit. Ashley knows how I love it, she's reading it too. *wink* *wink*

I can't tell you how many times I've read (and loved) this book. I know it looks pretty beaten up, but it's not because of how many times I've read it. Usually, I take phenomenally good care of my books. There was just this one particular day (which I'm amazed to be remembering so clearly), where I was in jeans (maybe that's why I'm remembering, it's so non-existent...the denim trouser thing)and It was raining buckets. I had this book in my book bag and it was drenched from the rain. I had to leave to air dry over the course of 2 days. I recall their being a super hot guy who I generously shared my umbrella with. I was 19 and he was (as I cam to learn) 26 - with a career. Back to the book...literally I laugh out loud when reading this. And I know people on the plane are going to be like "wtf is she laughing at?!" But I'll be too busy chuckling to myself to pay attention to all of that. Ha!

My dad gave me this book. Needless to say, I think my time spent gushing about her writing might have paid off. I loe everything Margaret Atwood. My favourite books of hers include THE HANDMAID'S TALE - which is currently on loan with a friend and EDIBLE WOMAN. Amazing books from an amazing author. I hope to be as good as her.

It's Sigmund Freud's theories. What more can I ask for? Like him or not, you can't deny that you won't (at least I won't) fall asleep reading it. My fav thing of his is DORA: A CASE OF HYSTERIA. I won't be taking that overseas because it's just too precious to me. The funny thing is that DORA was free! The library had a bin of books they were going to toss if people didn't take them. I lucked out. I left with Dora, some J.D Robb books, and another one which I can't remember the name of.

A really nice romantic-comedy. I bought this at the same time that I bought SAVING ZOE (which, I've blogged about before) SPELLS AND SLEEPING BAGS, and WICKED. I won't be taking SAVING ZOE because I don't want to risk loosing it. That's why I won't be taking the others that I've listed for you. But I've never read this book, so I'm going to read it on the plane. It looks good.

The title and the premise made me laugh - in a good way. So I bought it, and I've (most embarrassingly) have yet to read it. The problem I have is that when I like a book, I read it over and over again. I read SAVING ZOE first, and I just left everything else alone for a while. Once I'd finished SAVING ZOE the first time I just read it again.

If Plato was alive today, I'd be his groupie. I honestly love reading his views on everything. Whenever he comes up in class I get excited, I just could go on forever. Allegory of the cave, the idea of the thing, The Republic, The Apology, and yes THE SYMPOSIUM. He just rocks my socks guys. I can't go anywhere without his writing.

Books I won't be taking: School books

----

Also thought I'd post a quick look at what I'm going to wear on the plane. But I'd like to preface this by saying that I'm a girl who has her 'sexy/vintage but not the most comfortable thing ever' kind of outfit, the vintage clothes that are sexy but actually comfy, and then I have the non-vintage comfy but cute outfits. I'm using the comfy/cute outfit.
Please click to get the full image!

There are many reasons why I choose this outfit.

1. The beige kenzie tunic/sweater is the most comfortable thing I have in my closet.
2. So is the yellow Proldux dress (spelling may be off, just know I have 3-4 of their dresses)is dead comfy and cute.
3. The grey leggings feel like you're wearing nothing. Although some people thinking wearing nothing is not comfy, I like my skin/body and liken this too the best state to be in.
4. I'm going from two extremes - EXTREME Canadian winter to EXTREME Nigerian heat. My aunt just told me yesterday that it's as hot as hell down there right now. This dress is a knee length (light/flowy) summer dress that when layered works well in cold weather too.
5. My Ed Hardy high tops are just all kinds of cool. I love them and wear them often. They're like being in slippers that just look good.

I have to be comfortable. And to be comfortable, I need good reads, good music, and finally, comfortable clothing. I'm not going under the best of circumstances (RIP Gran), but I'm going to meet family who I've never seen in my life. That's got to be good right?

Take care,

Adaora

How to turn a scarf into a top

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:05:01 PST

A few posts back I posted that I attempted (and succeeded) in turning a scarf into a tank top. I was having trouble getting the pictures to show up on here, but I've finally figured it out. I realized also that I was being greedy with this information. Why shouldn't I share it with the (18,000 + people who pass here from all over the world - thanks babes!)

So....

I thought I'd make it a Step-by-step kind of thing.

Here it goes....

What you'll need:

1. A BIG scarf. The bigger the better depending on how small you are. I'm a size medium (8 dress) but for others it might be different if you're smaller or larger.

2. An elastic band or a hair band. I think a hair band is better though because it's strong. Again, you want maximum support right?

3. That fearless mentality. The ability to wear it outside without fearing that you might show boobage. I don't have it, and therefore I doubt I'll be wearing it outside any time soon like this.

Note: These are big pictures (taking on my brilliant new Canon 10 mega pix camera. You're going to have to click to get the full image, then hit the back button to read on!)

Step one

Turn the scarf of your choice upside down and tie the band in the centre. Directly in the middle

Step Two:
Turn it right side up and observe the ruching. This will help emphasis you're boobage, and will give a nice shape/definition to the top.

Step Three:
Take the tied scarf (back size facing inwards and tie the two top corners around your neck. The bottom two corners should tie around you waist).

Step Four:

Enjoy!

Take care,

Adaora

Lady in Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Adaora A.) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:31:44 PST

I'm flying to Nigeria this Saturday.

Yes, I know I said it was going to be in December, but family down there died and we had to move the flight so we could attend the funeral. I'm pretty solidly packed (with only a few things here and there left to pick up), and then I'm ready to go.

Things I figure I'm going to probably (or possibly) need:

1. Gum (I've been told that it helps keep your ears from popping when you're on the plane. I wish I knew this when I was riding drop zone at Canada's Wonderland or Superman at Six Flags New England.)

2. Hand towels (A family friend who dropped by yesterday told me I'm going to be sweating buckets until my body gets the few days it needs to acclimate to the weather. Yaw!)

3. St. Ives Vanilla body lotion and peach facial scrub.

4. Vaseline (travel sized tube)

5. Feminine products

6. Skittles (for in case I have the urge for the sweet and chewy goodness).

7. A chocolate fruit and nut bar (ditto to above).

I've decided that I just won't be bringing any jewelry with me. If I want to wear it badly enough, I'll buy it down there. I think If I bring too many things I'll end up forgetting some of it. And I must say, I'm amazed at how well I packed my carry on (that is, how much I crammed into it). 16 dresses, two leggings, three comfy/cute sandals, 16 underbottoms, three bras, a sleep shirt, sleep pants, a sleep camidress, two slippers, and a pair of old sunglasses (which wouldn't break my heart if I lost them). Awesome right? I'll probably edit this post today or tomorrow with the picture of my well stocked carry on. My clothing, my shoes, will ALWAYS ride with me.

Take care,

Adaora

EDIT:

Just because people seem to be so interested in seeing this, I decided to post the picture (quite smugly actually) of my amazing packing feat:

The Picture is big so you've got to click it to get the view of all three outfits.

Isn't it beautiful?

And this is incredibly off-topic but I couldn't resist addding the following two last tidbits:

1. The outfits I wore this week (couldn't find a mirror long enough to show me in it and my sister is a reluctant photographer):

I'm such a geek in the sense that I hang the outfits that I will be wearing for the week on my window. The 1st dress is a vintage 60s v-neck dress from Pantastic @etsy.com, the second dress is a fantastic 70s vintage dress from sheheartsvintage @ etsy.com, and finally the third is a vintage dress (which came with a cardi but I didn't wear them together, just added my own belt) came from ErinLiz @ etsy.com. The tights are silks from ages ago. The Picture is big so you've got to click it to get the view of all three outfits.

2. I decided to enter a Poetry contest at my university. The deadline is coming up, I've got to enter it before I leave the country. Wish me luck!

Take care (again),

Adaora